Without a doubt, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are two of the greatest basketball players to ever play the sport.
This is not a discussion of who is better, nor is it a slight to any other major NBA All Stars, past or present. It is simply an observation of two athletes who can, and have done, virtually anything with that ole round ball.
Some Black Mamba highlights:
A bit of King James:
Nice defense by Kobe (re LeBron):
It is always a pleasure to watch these two take the floor.
Over for Now.
Main Street One
Showing posts with label Los Angeles Lakers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Los Angeles Lakers. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
The NBA Finals: Heat 1 - Mavericks 1
It seemed no one thought the Mavericks could beat the Heat in Game 2 at South Beach, down 15 with seven minutes and change remaining.
Certainly the crowd at American Airlines Arena knew it was over. As did, based on comments, the announcers.
In what had been a relatively close back-and-forth contest for most of the game, the Heat went on a rampage and took what seemed like an insurmountable and commanding 15 point lead in the 4th, assisted by three consecutive Mav turnovers, capped by a D-Wade 3-pointer.
After Wade dropped the corner downtown shot to make it 88-73, LeBron James trotted over and congratulated him.
Perhaps it was a little too much. Some of the Mavericks noticed and took it as a too-soon mini-celebration. Tyson Chandler said it was "upsetting." Jason Terry said it was "a turning point."
What many people seem to have forgetten is that Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavs had been in situations like this three different times to three different contenders on their road to these 2011 NBA Finals.
Late in the games, they had been down 12 to the Portland Trailblazers and stormed back, down 16 to the defending Champion LA Lakers and won, as well as down 15 to the Oklahoma City Thunder only to turn up the heat (pardon the expression) to snatch that victory.
Their 22-5 run in the final 7:14 was capped by Dirk sliding around Chris Bosh for what would be the game-winning layup. No one knows why Bosh did not foul as Miami had a foul to give.
Regardless, it was a fantastic comeback by Dallas.
It was also payback. In the 2006 Finals Dallas had a 2-0 advantage over Miami and in Game 3 held a 13 point lead in the 4th only to lose that game and the next three.
The Mavs made a non-verbal statement with their Game 2 victory: Whatever else happens, this is a contest and may the best team win.
In what seems like agreement, LeBron, postgame, said, "It's a ballgame now."
Here are the highlights from Game 2 with fantastic plays by both teams.
It seems a certainty that James, Wade and Bosh will not allow anything like this to occur again in these Finals. It might also be that Dirk and Company will do everything in their power not to find themselves in that kind of position.
The series moves to Dallas on Sunday for the first of three games to be played at American Airlines Center, the airline hosting all of the 2011 Finals contests.
Over For Now.
Main Street One
Certainly the crowd at American Airlines Arena knew it was over. As did, based on comments, the announcers.
In what had been a relatively close back-and-forth contest for most of the game, the Heat went on a rampage and took what seemed like an insurmountable and commanding 15 point lead in the 4th, assisted by three consecutive Mav turnovers, capped by a D-Wade 3-pointer.
After Wade dropped the corner downtown shot to make it 88-73, LeBron James trotted over and congratulated him.
Perhaps it was a little too much. Some of the Mavericks noticed and took it as a too-soon mini-celebration. Tyson Chandler said it was "upsetting." Jason Terry said it was "a turning point."
What many people seem to have forgetten is that Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavs had been in situations like this three different times to three different contenders on their road to these 2011 NBA Finals.
Late in the games, they had been down 12 to the Portland Trailblazers and stormed back, down 16 to the defending Champion LA Lakers and won, as well as down 15 to the Oklahoma City Thunder only to turn up the heat (pardon the expression) to snatch that victory.
Their 22-5 run in the final 7:14 was capped by Dirk sliding around Chris Bosh for what would be the game-winning layup. No one knows why Bosh did not foul as Miami had a foul to give.
Regardless, it was a fantastic comeback by Dallas.
It was also payback. In the 2006 Finals Dallas had a 2-0 advantage over Miami and in Game 3 held a 13 point lead in the 4th only to lose that game and the next three.
The Mavs made a non-verbal statement with their Game 2 victory: Whatever else happens, this is a contest and may the best team win.
In what seems like agreement, LeBron, postgame, said, "It's a ballgame now."
Here are the highlights from Game 2 with fantastic plays by both teams.
It seems a certainty that James, Wade and Bosh will not allow anything like this to occur again in these Finals. It might also be that Dirk and Company will do everything in their power not to find themselves in that kind of position.
The series moves to Dallas on Sunday for the first of three games to be played at American Airlines Center, the airline hosting all of the 2011 Finals contests.
Over For Now.
Main Street One
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Shaquille O'Neal Retires
One of the most dominant forces in basketball and a future NBA Hall of Famer, Shaquille "Shaq" O'Neal, announced his retirement from the profession today after 19 years.
The annoucement was made via Twitter:
Ever the competitor, injuries hampered his final three seasons, but the years when he played at full force he was something to watch.
With a powerful career that started with the Orlando Magic, then moved to the Los Angeles Lakers and on to the Miami Heat, the last three seasons saw Shaq with the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and this past season with the Boston Celtics.
There has been so much written about The Diesel the past two decades that perhaps it would be best to just list a few of his many accomplishments, and then watch this eight minute video showing just how dominant he was on the court.
* NBA Rookie of the Year (1993)
* Twice NBA scoring champion (1995, 2000)
* NBA MVP (2000)
* A four time NBA Champion (2000, 2001, 2002, 2006)
* Three NBA Finals MVP awards (2000, 2001, 2002)
* 15 NBA All Star Teams (1993-1998, 2000-2007, 2009)
* Three times NBA All Star MVP (2000, 2004, 2009)
* among others
Shaq in Action:
We enjoyed your play, Shaq, as well as your off-court entertainment.
Following is a short Shaq-feature comic hero treatment from the NBA.
Enjoy your retirement, Shaq.
Over For Now.
Main Street One
The annoucement was made via Twitter:
Ever the competitor, injuries hampered his final three seasons, but the years when he played at full force he was something to watch.
With a powerful career that started with the Orlando Magic, then moved to the Los Angeles Lakers and on to the Miami Heat, the last three seasons saw Shaq with the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and this past season with the Boston Celtics.
There has been so much written about The Diesel the past two decades that perhaps it would be best to just list a few of his many accomplishments, and then watch this eight minute video showing just how dominant he was on the court.
* NBA Rookie of the Year (1993)
* Twice NBA scoring champion (1995, 2000)
* NBA MVP (2000)
* A four time NBA Champion (2000, 2001, 2002, 2006)
* Three NBA Finals MVP awards (2000, 2001, 2002)
* 15 NBA All Star Teams (1993-1998, 2000-2007, 2009)
* Three times NBA All Star MVP (2000, 2004, 2009)
* among others
Shaq in Action:
We enjoyed your play, Shaq, as well as your off-court entertainment.
Following is a short Shaq-feature comic hero treatment from the NBA.
Enjoy your retirement, Shaq.
Over For Now.
Main Street One
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
NBA Official Basketball - Great Playoff Moments
In the world of lame television commercials that we live with and suffer through in order to enjoy whatever it is we wish to follow, promoting anything and everything one can imagine, it is a truly a breath of fresh air to watch the NBA Official Basketball.
Granted there are a couple of them that are just so-so, but on the whole the NBA has got it right with these spots.
The terrific ones feature the Ball in some of the greatest plays in NBA Playoff history.
The sad thing about any incredible "did-you-see-that" performance on the court is that they are over in the blink of an eye. And, for those attending the game, depending on where they sit in the arena, some may not see it at all. For the NBA to place some of these feats in commercials is simply brilliant.
This one was over three decades ago with a superb effort by Philadelphia 76ers star Dr. J. (Julius Erving) playing the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals. Dr. J., in a Baseline Move, flies behind the rim, Official Basketball clutched in his outstretched hand, hanging way out of bounds, and then swoops the Ball around and in the bucket with a reverse layup.
This next one features Los Angeles Lakers longtime standout in the clutch Derek Fisher, scoring a game-winning all net jumper against the San Antonio Spurs from an in-bounds pass with just 0.4 seconds left on the clock.
What a tribute the NBA has done to highlight such extraordinary action in these short clips.
Over For Now.
Main Street One
Granted there are a couple of them that are just so-so, but on the whole the NBA has got it right with these spots.
The terrific ones feature the Ball in some of the greatest plays in NBA Playoff history.
The sad thing about any incredible "did-you-see-that" performance on the court is that they are over in the blink of an eye. And, for those attending the game, depending on where they sit in the arena, some may not see it at all. For the NBA to place some of these feats in commercials is simply brilliant.
This one was over three decades ago with a superb effort by Philadelphia 76ers star Dr. J. (Julius Erving) playing the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals. Dr. J., in a Baseline Move, flies behind the rim, Official Basketball clutched in his outstretched hand, hanging way out of bounds, and then swoops the Ball around and in the bucket with a reverse layup.
This next one features Los Angeles Lakers longtime standout in the clutch Derek Fisher, scoring a game-winning all net jumper against the San Antonio Spurs from an in-bounds pass with just 0.4 seconds left on the clock.
What a tribute the NBA has done to highlight such extraordinary action in these short clips.
Over For Now.
Main Street One
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
NBA Conference Championship Playoffs 2011
It is definitely NBA Playoff time and as this blog is being written the playoffs are, essentially, midway to having a 2011 Champion.
Some surprises have definitely happened along the way.
The #1 seed in the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs, lost in the first round to the #8 seed Memphis Grizzlies in six games.
Perhaps it was meant to be this year, the #2 seed (and defending NBA Champion) Los Angeles Lakers took six games to beat the #7 New Orleans Hornets and then got swept by #3 Dallas Mavericks in four games, completely thwarting their effort for a second three-peat.
In the Eastern Conference, the #1 seed Chicago Bulls, with the league's MVP and best record of all teams, took out the #7 Indiana Pacers in five games in round one and find themselves tied at two games each with #5 seed Atlanta Hawks who took the #4 Orlando Magic out of the picture in six.
Probably one of the most anticipated matchups features #2 Miami Heat and #3 Boston Celtics. The Heat excelled in game 4 to lead the series 3-1.
As it looks right now, the Dallas Mavericks, with time to rest after their sweep, will probably meet #4 Oklahoma City Thunder (providing they get by the Grizzlies, with the series tied at 2 apiece) for the Western Conference Championship while in the Eastern Conference odds are that the Heat will be playing the Bulls to determine who goes for the NBA trophy.
It will be interesting to see.
As the theme of the playoffs is "Win or Go Home," one can see the truth in that short statement.
In the meantime, one of the highlights of every playoff game has been the NBA's own commercials, featuring the "Official Basketball."
This one is absolutely great:
Over For Now.
Main Street One
Some surprises have definitely happened along the way.
The #1 seed in the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs, lost in the first round to the #8 seed Memphis Grizzlies in six games.
Perhaps it was meant to be this year, the #2 seed (and defending NBA Champion) Los Angeles Lakers took six games to beat the #7 New Orleans Hornets and then got swept by #3 Dallas Mavericks in four games, completely thwarting their effort for a second three-peat.
In the Eastern Conference, the #1 seed Chicago Bulls, with the league's MVP and best record of all teams, took out the #7 Indiana Pacers in five games in round one and find themselves tied at two games each with #5 seed Atlanta Hawks who took the #4 Orlando Magic out of the picture in six.
Probably one of the most anticipated matchups features #2 Miami Heat and #3 Boston Celtics. The Heat excelled in game 4 to lead the series 3-1.
As it looks right now, the Dallas Mavericks, with time to rest after their sweep, will probably meet #4 Oklahoma City Thunder (providing they get by the Grizzlies, with the series tied at 2 apiece) for the Western Conference Championship while in the Eastern Conference odds are that the Heat will be playing the Bulls to determine who goes for the NBA trophy.
It will be interesting to see.
As the theme of the playoffs is "Win or Go Home," one can see the truth in that short statement.
In the meantime, one of the highlights of every playoff game has been the NBA's own commercials, featuring the "Official Basketball."
This one is absolutely great:
Over For Now.
Main Street One
Friday, October 8, 2010
NBA 2K11 - Kobe and Jordan
Just had to post this one.
All-time NBA great Michael Jordan, headlining in the NBA 2K11 game, gets drafted to the Los Angeles Lakers by none other than Kobe Bryant.
Makes for an interesting game.
Especially against other multi-superstar teams.
Over For Now.
Main Street One
All-time NBA great Michael Jordan, headlining in the NBA 2K11 game, gets drafted to the Los Angeles Lakers by none other than Kobe Bryant.
Makes for an interesting game.
Especially against other multi-superstar teams.
Over For Now.
Main Street One
Friday, June 18, 2010
Los Angeles Lakers, 2010 NBA Champions
Sports is a tremendously huge part of the culture of Main Street USA.
Between athletic and theatrical events the citizens of America spend billions upon billions of their hard-earned dollars.
In sporting competitions it is to follow and watch someone become the champion, the best at what they do.
This year, as they did in 2009, the Los Angeles Lakers were crowned as the Kings of Basketball after defeating their arch-rival, the Boston Celtics.
The Lakers were led all season by Kobe Bryant.
Make no mistake about it, basketball is a team activity and Kobe received a lot of assistance to acquire his 5th NBA Finals Championship Ring and his second consecutive NBA Finals MVP Award.
The series against the Celtics proved that Pau Gasol (the "Spaniard" as Kobe calls him), Derek Fisher, Andrew Bynum, Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, Sasha Vujacic, Jordan Farmar, Shannon Brown, and Luke Walton wanted that 16th NBA Title for Los Angeles possibly as much as did Kobe.
However, Kobe is Kobe.
He is a dynamic player for the ages. A winner.
He is a winner surrounded by others who desire to win as well.
Congratulations to coach Phil Jackson and all the Lakers!
Especially to Kobe Bryant.
Over For Now.
Main Street One
Between athletic and theatrical events the citizens of America spend billions upon billions of their hard-earned dollars.
In sporting competitions it is to follow and watch someone become the champion, the best at what they do.
This year, as they did in 2009, the Los Angeles Lakers were crowned as the Kings of Basketball after defeating their arch-rival, the Boston Celtics.
The Lakers were led all season by Kobe Bryant.
Make no mistake about it, basketball is a team activity and Kobe received a lot of assistance to acquire his 5th NBA Finals Championship Ring and his second consecutive NBA Finals MVP Award.
The series against the Celtics proved that Pau Gasol (the "Spaniard" as Kobe calls him), Derek Fisher, Andrew Bynum, Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, Sasha Vujacic, Jordan Farmar, Shannon Brown, and Luke Walton wanted that 16th NBA Title for Los Angeles possibly as much as did Kobe.
However, Kobe is Kobe.
He is a dynamic player for the ages. A winner.
He is a winner surrounded by others who desire to win as well.
Especially to Kobe Bryant.
Over For Now.
Main Street One
Friday, June 4, 2010
2010 NBA Finals Game 1 Lakers and Celtics
Having lived in California for over four decades, and in the Los Angeles area for much of that time, it is hard not to be a Los Angeles Lakers fan, especially during the NBA finals, regardless of the current place of residence.
And even more so with the opportunity to avenge the tragic loss in 2008 to the Boston Celtics.
It is unlikely that the Lakers will ever get close to evening up the championship series between the two - they are down 9-2 at this point thanks to Bill Russell's complete dominance of the game. Russell lead his Celtics team to 11 NBA Championships during his 13 seasons as a player, including 7 in match-ups against the Lakers.
Even so, the rivalry between the two most storied teams in the NBA is legend.
And continues as Kobe Bryant goes for his 5th title ring as a Laker. Game 1 shows what this series will be about.
In the day, growing up in SoCal with Boston controlling the NBA, the alternate outlet for enthusiasm was watching the UCLA Bruins, the totally dominate NCAA team, who won 10 championship titles between 1964 and 1975, including 4 undefeated seasons.
Those Caliornia memories will always remain, including the year my high school team played Jamaal Keith Wilkes (and lost). Fortunately, I did not have to guard him, my teammate did. Wilkes was later on the UCLA team that won 2 titles during 30-0 seasons in 1972 and 1973 and set the record of 88 consecutive wins and eventually played on four NBA Championship teams, one with the Golden State Warriors and the others with the Lakers.
Over For Now.
Main Street One
And even more so with the opportunity to avenge the tragic loss in 2008 to the Boston Celtics.
It is unlikely that the Lakers will ever get close to evening up the championship series between the two - they are down 9-2 at this point thanks to Bill Russell's complete dominance of the game. Russell lead his Celtics team to 11 NBA Championships during his 13 seasons as a player, including 7 in match-ups against the Lakers.
Even so, the rivalry between the two most storied teams in the NBA is legend.
And continues as Kobe Bryant goes for his 5th title ring as a Laker. Game 1 shows what this series will be about.
In the day, growing up in SoCal with Boston controlling the NBA, the alternate outlet for enthusiasm was watching the UCLA Bruins, the totally dominate NCAA team, who won 10 championship titles between 1964 and 1975, including 4 undefeated seasons.
Those Caliornia memories will always remain, including the year my high school team played Jamaal Keith Wilkes (and lost). Fortunately, I did not have to guard him, my teammate did. Wilkes was later on the UCLA team that won 2 titles during 30-0 seasons in 1972 and 1973 and set the record of 88 consecutive wins and eventually played on four NBA Championship teams, one with the Golden State Warriors and the others with the Lakers.
Over For Now.
Main Street One
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